Team profile

Japan are one of only two teams, along with China, to have been in all 25 editions of the FIVB World Grand Prix. They only have one medal to show for their 24 previous appearances – a silver from 2014 when they hosted the Final Six in Tokyo. Last year they finished eighth in the Group 1 Intercontinental Round on a 3-6 record.

Japan were a prominent force in the 1960s and 1970s, winning Olympic gold medals in Tokyo 1964 and Montreal 1976, as well as silver in Mexico City 1968 and Munich 1972. They picked up a bronze in Los Angeles 1984 and returned to the Olympic podium after 28 years with a win over Korea in the bronze medal match of London 2012. Last year in Rio 2016 they made the quarterfinals, but finished 5th. Japan have been crowned world champions three times, in 1962, 1967 and 1974. After 32 years without a medal they claimed bronze in 2010, before finishing 7th in 2014. They have also won numerous medals of all colours at the Asian Games and Asian Championships.

Coach

Nakada Kumi

Kumi Nakada, born in 1965, is a Los Angeles 1984 Olympic bronze medallist as a setter with the National Team of Japan. She became a three-time Olympian after also playing in Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992. She took over as coach of the women’s National Team from Masayoshi Manabe this year with a mandate to lead the team up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where Japan will be competing as hosts. Her previous coaching experience was with Hisamitsu Springs since 2012, who she has led to three titles in Japan’s V.Premier League. She is the first ever female coach of the National Team.